Happy decorative gourd season! While there’s no shame in grabbing a pumpkin from that giant carboard box at your favourite grocery store, sometimes it’s nice to take in a little country air with the kids and pick your own farm fresh pumpkin at one of the many pumpkin patches in Toronto and the GTA.
Below, we round up 11 local farms that let your family select out that perfect pumpkin, as well as have some other fun, such as exploring a corn maze or taking a wagon ride. All of the listed farms are located roughly 90 minutes or less from Toronto.
Best Pumpkin Patches in Toronto & the GTA
Andrews Farm Market & Winery
9365 10 Side Rd, Milton, ON
In addition to pumpkins, October at Andrews Farm Market & Winery brings pick your own seasonal gourds and squashes and, while they last, sunflowers and dahlias. Pumpkins are sold at $0.79/lb and there is a $15 per person admission fee (with kids under five free) that get your family access to hours of farm fun, including wagon rides, animal corrals, and mazes. Andrews also offers a season pass that includes quite a few perks, including a free miniature pumpkin.
Brooks Farms
122 Ashworth Rd, Mount Albert, ON
Brooks Farms’ fall festival is on now and is packed with fun. Your $29.99 ticket (required for everyone two and older) gets you access to a ton of activities, including two pirate ships, play structures and bouncers and special live entertainment shows, such as Princess Halloween Party. Brooks Farms is also packed with pumpkin picking options at its on-site pumpkin field. Looking for something a little different? Check out the farm’s selection of squashes, which can make for great décor items.
Dixie Orchards
14309 Dixie Rd, Inglewood, ON
While Dixie Orchards is best known for its apple picking, it also offers pick your own pumpkins from its on-site pumpkin patch. Also available for picking are hazelnuts. No reservations are needed to pick pumpkins (or hazelnuts) but are required if your family wants to check out the farm’s non-PYO features, which include farm animals, wagon rides, and a corn maze. Tickets start at $5.31 per person, and kids two and under are free. Make a reservation here.
Downey’s Strawberry and Apple Farm
13707 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon, ON
Don’t let its name fool you; Downey’s is also home to a generous pumpkin patch, found right next to its apple orchard. Looking for something prepicked? Head across the road to Downey’s Farm, where you’ll find hundreds of harvested pumpkins. There, your family can join in on Pumpkinfest, which offers inflatables, live entertainment, farm animals and so much more. Tickets for Pumpkinfest must be purchased in advance and are $21.99 per person, age two and up.
Important note: Pumpkin picking and Pumpkinfest only run at Downey’s Caledon location, not its Breslau farm. Make sure your family heads out to the right spot!
Hutchinson Farm
6202 Walkers Line, Burlington, ON
No need to worry about advance tickets or reservations at Hutchinson Farm. Just show up between 9 and 5 on weekdays and 9 and 4 on the weekends and pick the pumpkin that works best for your family. In addition to the traditional smooth, orange pumpkin, a variety of other shades and textures are available, as are squash, onions, garlic, and more. While Hutchinson Farm doesn’t have any playlands or corn mazes, it does feature some pretty creative pumpkin sculptures that are perfect for family photo ops.
Knox’s Pumpkin Farm
6325 Enfield Rd, Hampton, ON
For nearly 200 years, the Knox family has been farming in Durham region so you can trust that this place knows how to grow a pumpkin. It also knows how to pack plenty of fun into your family’s day out. After your family has selected a pumpkin (and maybe a squash or two), check out the farm’s other activities, including a play area, a corn maze, and even real ponies that your kids can ride. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Admission starts at $14 for those age two and over, and for $22 per person, your visit also includes a wagon ride and a pumpkin.
Merry Farm
1974 Concession Rd 2 W, Lynden, ON
Sure, this Hamilton-area farm has a great pick-your-own pumpkin patch but the real star at this farm is its 65-foot-long jumping pillow in shape of a bright orange pumpkin. It’s perfect for burning off energy and creating some amazing, action-packed photos. Over 30 other activities are also available at Merry Farm, including a giant climbing “spider web,” mazes and something called “farmer foozball (human size).” Advanced tickets are required and available on Merry Farm’s website. Access to the farm, which includes all activities (though not the cost of your pumpkin), is $17.99 per person, with kids under two being free.
Pingle’s Farm Market
1805 Taunton Rd, Hampton, ON
Do your kids want to include the family dog on your pumpkin picking adventures? Then head out to Pingle’s Farm Market on October 30 for its special HalloWoof Day. On that day, your pooch can join your family on a wagon ride, participate in a costume contest, and take one long walk through the farm’s 6.5 Alice in Wonderland-themed acre corn maze. All that fun, minus the furry friends, is also available every Friday through Sunday in October at this east end farm. Your family can also enjoy apple picking, a playland, and tons of delicious food options. Advance ticket purchase is required, as the weekends do book up, and a variety of ticket packages are available, starting at $15 (kids under two are free).
Puddicome Estate Farms & Winery
468 Hwy 8, Winona, Hamilton, ON
Looking for a farm with fun extras that let you pay-as-you-go? Then consider Puddicome Estate Farms & Winery, which has been growing delicious produce since 1797. Its Harvest Festival Weekends lets you buy tickets as needed to participate in various games and other fun, including riding the farm’s very own train. Puddicome’s pumpkin patch offers both orange and white pumpkins while its well-stocked marketplace sells baked goods, preserves, and a wide selection of made-on-the-farm wines and ciders.
Snyder’s Family Farm
936685 Blenheim Rd, Bright, ON
Looking for a simple pumpkin patch where your family can just show up and pick out and pay for the perfect gourd without having to also cough up an admission fee? Then head out over to Synder’s Family Farm where you can pick your own or select from a variety of pre-picked pumpkins. Of course, if your family does want some farm fun, Synder’s also provides that option. Purchase your timed tickets for $18.99 each (kids two and under are free) and check out the farm’s peddle cart and trike tracks, jumping pillows, barnyard animals, and so much more. Guests age 10 and up can also check out a couple of the creepy (and kind of gory) attractions that make up part of Snyder’s nighttime alter ego, Fear Farm.
Watson Farms
2287 Durham Regional Hwy 2, Bowmanville, ON
Pumpkins of all sizes are available at Watson Farms, where you’ll pay between $4 and $16 a gourd, depending on the size of your selection. There is no admission fee to enter the farm but there is a minimum spend. For full details, be sure to visit Watson’s website. Your PYO fee also gets your family access to the farm’s “extra activities,” which include a petting zoo, a corn and a playground that features a giant ride slide.
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Category: events,attractions,outdoor-play
